Unmanned aerial system communication

ABSTRACT

Systems and method may provide unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connection monitoring and location reporting. A method implemented by at least one processor includes receiving, by an unmanned aerial system application enabler (UAE) server, a location report indicating a location of the UAV from a location management (LM) server; receiving, by the UAE server, a lost connection report indicating a loss of connection with the UAV; receiving, by the UAE server, a connection resumption report from a network resource management (NRM) server indicating that the connection with the UAV has been re-established; and based on receiving the connection resumption report, transmitting, from the UAE server, a location update request to the LM server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.63/136,330, filed on Jan. 12, 2021, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to operation of unmannedaerial systems, and more specifically, to real time UAV networkconnection monitoring and location reporting.

BACKGROUND

As a result of recent technical developments, unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs) have become considerably easier to fly, which in turn has madethem popular not only with professional UAV pilots and determined andaffluent hobbyists but also with the general public. As a result,millions of UAVs are now sold every year compared to a few thousand—ifthat many—model helicopters some 15 years ago. At the same time, theknowledge, proficiency, and engagement of the user community, onaverage, have decreased.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments, a method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)connection monitoring and location reporting is implemented by at leastone processor and includes receiving, by an unmanned aerial systemapplication enabler (UAE) server, a location report indicating alocation of the UAV from a location management (LM) server; receiving,by the UAE server, a lost connection report indicating a loss ofconnection with the UAV; receiving, by the UAE server, a connectionresumption report from a network resource management (NRM) serverindicating that the connection with the UAV has been re-established; andbased on receiving the connection resumption report, transmitting, fromthe UAE server, a location update request to the LM server.

According to embodiments, a device for implementing an unmanned aerialsystem application enabler (UAE) server includes at least one processor;and memory including computer code, the computer code including: firstreceiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receivea location report indicating a location of an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) from a location management (LM) server; second receiving codeconfigured to cause the at least one processor to receive a lostconnection report indicating a loss of connection with the UAV; thirdreceiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receivea connection resumption report from a network resource management (NRM)server indicating that the connection with the UAV has beenre-established; and transmitting code configured to cause the at leastone processor to, based on receiving the connection resumption report,transmit a location update request to the LM server.

According to embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring computer code that is configured to, when executed by at leastone processor included in a device for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)connection monitoring and location reporting, cause the at least oneprocessor to: receive, by an unmanned aerial system application enabler(UAE) server, a location report indicating a location of the UAV from alocation management (LM) server; receive, by the UAE server, a lostconnection report indicating a loss of connection with the UAV; receive,by the UAE server, a connection resumption report from a networkresource management (NRM) server indicating that the connection with theUAV has been re-established; and based on receiving the connectionresumption report, transmit, from the UAE server, a location updaterequest to the LM server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, the nature, and various advantages of the disclosedsubject matter will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an unmanned aerial system (UAS).

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a UAS that includes UAScommunication with at least one server.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a system, including a UAS, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a system, including a UAS, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an example SEAL generalarchitecture for a UAS.

FIG. 6 is schematic illustration of a high-level workflow of unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) connection monitoring and location reporting, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is schematic illustration of a high-level workflow of unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) connection monitoring and location reporting, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of computer code of a UAE server inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a computer system in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 , an unmanned aerial system (UAS) (100) can includean unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (101) and a controller (102). Thecontroller (102) can use a data link (103) to communicate controlcommands from the controller (102) to the UAV (101). The controller(102) may include at least one communication circuit that is configuredto provide communication, that constitutes the data link (103), via veryhigh frequency (VHF), ultra-high frequency (UHF), or other wirelesstechnology that is analog or digital radio conveying. The controller(102) via the data link (103) may control power levels of the engines(114) of the UAV (101) or control surfaces of the UAV (101). Moreabstract commands like pitch, yaw, and roll, similar to those ofhelicopters or aircraft, can also be used. An experienced pilot canoperate some UAVs with those basic controls, not relying on any advancedonboard processing of control signals inside a UAV. UAVs have beenavailable in many forms, including as helicopters and aircraft.

Advances in onboard electronic designs more recently allow the offloadof certain tasks from the human operator to the UAV itself. Many UAVs,today, include sensor(s) (104) that indicate to an onboard controller(105) of the UAV (101) characteristics of the UAV (101) such as, forexample, the attitude and the acceleration of the UAV (101). The onboardcontroller (105) can be a computer system with a scaled-down ornon-existent user interface. The information obtained by the sensor(s)(104), in addition to the control inputs received from the data link(103) from the controller (102), may allow the UAV (101) to remainstable unless positive control input is obtained from the controller(102).

Even more recently, UAVs can include a receiver (106) configured toreceive communication from one of the Global Navigation SatelliteSystems (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) operated bythe United States. FIG. 1 illustrates a single satellite (108) thatprovides a signal (107) as such communication, to represent a GNSS.However, the receiver (106) of the UAV (101) may receive communicationfrom a GNSS that includes three or more, and typically four or more,line-of-sight satellites to triangulate the position of the UAV (101) inspace. The receiver (106), which may be a GNSS receiver, may determinewith fair accuracy the position of the UAV (101) in space and time. Insome UAVs, a GNSS can be augmented by additional sensors (such as anultrasonic or LIDAR sensor) of the UAV (101) on the vertical (Z-) axisto enable soft landings (not depicted). The UAV (101), according to someembodiments, may be configured to perform features such as “fly home”and “auto-land” based on GNSS capabilities, where the UAV (101) flies toa location that was defined as its home location. Such features may beperformed by the UAV (101) based upon a simple command from thecontroller (102) (like: the push of a single button) or in case of aloss of the data link (103) from the controller (102) or other timeoutof meaningful control input.

As another recent development, the UAV (101) may also include one ormore cameras (109). In some cases, the UAV (101) may include agimbal-mounted camera as one of the cameras (109) and can be used torecord pictures and video of a quality sufficient for the UAV'susers—today, often in High Definition TV resolution. In some cases, theUAV (101) may include other cameras (110), often covering some or allaxes of movement, and the UAV (101) may be configured to perform onboardsignal processing based on signals from the cameras (110) for collisionavoidance with both fixed and moving objects.

In some cases, the UAV (101) may include a “main” camera as one of thecameras (109) and its camera signal can be communicated by acommunication interface (e.g. communication circuit) of the UAV (101)via a data link (111) in real-time towards the human user, and displayedon a display device (112) included in, attached to, or separate from thecontroller (102). The data link (111) may be the same as or differentfrom the data link (103). Accordingly, UAVs may be successfully flownout of line-of-sight of a human pilot, using a technique known as “FirstPerson View” (FPV).

Referring to FIG. 2 , a UAS (200) may include a UAV (201) and acontroller (202). The UAV (201) and the controller (202) may be the sameor similar to the UAV (101) and the controller (102) illustrated in FIG.1 , respectively. The UAS may exchange data traffic with a UAS servicesupplier (USS) (204) or a UAS traffic management (UTM). According to anembodiment, the UAS (200), potentially operated by a human pilot (203),may be configured to inform one or more USSs (204) about the position ofthe UAV (201) in real-time. The reporting can be conducted using theInternet (205). For all but the most exotic use cases involving tetheredUAVs, this may imply that one or both of the UAV (201) and thecontroller (202) of the UAS (200) may configured to have a connection(206) over a wireless network such as a network (207) (e.g. 5G Network)to the Internet (205), and the USS (204) also may have a connection(208) to the Internet (205). Such a scenario may be assumed herein, butembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Networksother than the Internet (205) may also be used. For example,conceivably, a closed wireless network that is not the Internet could beused to communicate between the UAS (200) and the USS (204). Closedwireless networks may be used for certain military UAVs. When referringto the “Internet” henceforth, such networks are meant to be included.

Many physical wireless network technologies may be deployed in uses thatenable connections (206) (e.g. wireless connections) and networks (207)(e.g. wireless networks) to connect systems such as the controller (202)or the UAV (201) of the UAS (200) to the Internet (205). For outdoorapplications, mobile networks may be used such as, for example, 5^(th)Generation or “5G” networks. Henceforth, the use of such a 5G networkmay be assumed but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limitedthereto. Other physical network technologies can equally be employed,including for example, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, LTE mobile networks, wireless LANin infrastructure or ad hoc mode, zig-bee, and so on. In embodiments ofthe present disclosure, a mobile network carrying the Internet can offerbi-directional communication, such as, for example, between the UAS(200) and the USS (204). The Quality of Service in each direction maydiffer however. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, theUAV (201), the controller (202), and/or the USS (204) may includecommunication interfaces (including for example, a transmitter and/or areceiver) and at least one processor with memory that implements one ormore of the physical wireless network technologies, so as to beconfigured to communicate via one or more of the network types of thepresent disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 2 , the connections (206) between the Internet(205) through a network (207) (e.g. a 5G network) to the UAV (201)and/or the controller (202) can be bi-directional. When using Internetprotocols such as Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol(TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP),Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC), and similar, for thecommunication between the UAS (200) and the USS (204), then by thenature of such protocols, a bi-directional link may be required forthose protocols to work.

Referring to FIGS. 3-4 , in an embodiment of the present disclosure, asystem may be provided. The system may include a UAV (301) and acontroller (302), that together constitute a UAS (300). The UAV (301)and the controller (302) may include any number of the hardware (e.g.cameras and communication interfaces) and software components describedwith respect to the UAS (100) and the UAS (200) illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, and may be configured to perform the functions described with respectto the UAS (100) and the UAS (200). According to embodiments, withreference to FIG. 3 , the UAV (301) may include a computer system (320)that includes at least one processor and memory storing computer code,wherein the computer code is configured to cause the UAV (301) toperform its functions when executed by the at least one processor of theUAV (301). The computer system (320) may be implemented by any number ofthe components of computer system (900) described later below withreference to FIG. 9 , and may exclude most user interface componentsillustrated in FIG. 9 . The computer system (320) may be an embeddedsystem and may advantageously (for space and weight reasons) be part of,or integrated into, the onboard flight control circuitry of the UAV(301). The computer system (320) may have a mechanism to obtain itslocation in three-dimensional space. For example, the computer system(320) may include a GPS antenna (323) that, together with a GPSreceiver, may be one example of such mechanisms. The computer system(320) may include other mechanisms such as, for example, a combinationof GPS with (potentially more accurate) barometric altitude sensors, atriangulation mechanism to determine a lateral position fromground-based navigation tools (omnidirectional range navigation systems(VORs), cell phone towers, etc.), and so forth. The UAV (301) may alsoinclude memory storage (324) accessible by the user (309) of the UAV(301). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , the memory storage (324)may be a micro-SD card. However, the memory storage (324) could also beanother changeable semiconductor storage, onboard NV-RAM in the UAV(301) that is accessible through a network plug from a computer orwireless LAN, and so forth.

The controller (302) may also include a computer system that includes atleast one processor and memory storing computer code, wherein thecomputer code is configured to cause the controller (302) to perform itsfunctions when executed by the at least one processor of the controller(302). The computer system of the controller (302) may be implemented byany number of the components of computer system (900) described laterbelow with reference to FIG. 9 . With reference to FIG. 4 , thecontroller (302) may include a memory storage (334) accessible by theuser (309) of the controller (302). The memory storage (334) may have asame or similar configuration as the memory storage (324). According toembodiments, one, none, or both of the memory storage (324) and thememory storage (334) may be included in the UAS (300). The memorystorage (324) and/or the memory storage (334) may have at least asufficient size to store information pertaining to the airspace(s) theUAV may operate in.

Details of protocols used for the communication between the UAS (300)(e.g. the UAV (301) or the controller (302)) and the one or more servers(304) (e.g. the USS) may depend on the services offered by the one ormore servers (304).

More recently, airspace authorities including the FAA have implementedmodern query interfaces that allow automated download of informationpertinent to a specific location with a granularity much finer than astate. These interfaces can be based on RESTful operations.Representational State Transfer (REST), is a technique in which a clientcan query a server identified by a base Unified Resource Indicator (URI)through standard HTTP methods (including, for example, GET, POST, PUT,PATCH, or DELETE) in a defined format. One such defined standardizedformat is known as Java Object Notation (JSON).

With reference to FIG. 3 , the computer system (320) of the UAV (301)may include a communication interface that includes, for example, one ormore communicators such as a communicator (325), which may include, forexample, a 5G antenna. The communicator (325) may be configured to senddata to and receive data (e.g. the information pertaining to theairspace(s)) from the Internet (305) by using the network (307). Thecommunicator (325), or another communicator of the communicationinterface of the UAV (301), may be configured to send data (e.g. sensordata, video data, the information pertaining to the airspace(s)) to andreceive data (e.g. command data) from the controller (302) via awireless connection (310). The controller (302) may also have acommunication interface with a communicator that is configured to senddata (e.g. commands) to and receive data (e.g. sensor data, video data,the information pertaining to the airspace(s)) from the UAV (301) viathe wireless connection (310). With reference to FIG. 4 , a communicator(315) of the controller (302), or another communicator of thecommunication interface of the controller (302), may be configured tosend data to and receive data (e.g. the information pertaining to theairspace(s)) from the Internet (305) by using the network (307). Eachcommunicator of the present disclosure may include, for example, atransmitter and a receiver.

In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G wirelessarchitecture, there may be a service enabler architecture layer forverticals (SEAL) which provides procedures, information flows, and APIsto support vertical applications over a 3GPP system. To ensure efficientuse and deployment of vertical applications over 3GPP systems, SEALservices may include, but is not limited to, group management,configuration management, location management, identity management, keymanagement, and network resource management.

With reference to FIG. 5 , an example SEAL general architecture for aUAS is described below.

The SEAL general architecture may include, for example, user equipment(UE) (511) (e.g. a UAS), a 3GPP network (509), a UAS Application Enabler(UAE) server (402), and a SEAL server(s) (507). The UE(s) (511) mayinclude, for example, a UAE client(s) (501) and a SEAL client(s) (504).In embodiments, the UAE client (501) and SEAL client (506) may beoutside of, or not included in, UE (511).

A UAS application enabler (UAE) layer offers the UAE capabilities to theUAS application-specific layer. A UAE layer may include a UAE client(501) and a UAE server (503). The UAE client and UAE server communicatewith each other through the 3GPP network use a reference point (502).The UAE client (501) may provide the UAE-client side functionalities,and may support interactions with SEAL client(s) (504) over a referencepoint (510). The UAE server (503) may provide the UAE-server sidefunctionalities, and may support interactions with the SEAL server(s)(507) over a reference point (508).

The SEAL client(s) (504) may provide the client side functionalitiescorresponding to the specific SEAL service, and the SEAL client(s) (504)may support interactions with the UAE client(s) (501), and may alsosupport interactions with the corresponding SEAL client (504) betweentwo UEs (511). The SEAL server(s) (507) may provide the server sidefunctionalities corresponding to the specific SEAL service, may supportthe interactions with the UAE server(s) (503), and may also supportinteractions with the corresponding SEAL server (507) in distributedSEAL deployments.

The SEAL client(s) (504) may communicate with the SEAL server(s) (507)through the 3GPP network over the reference point (505). Reference point(505) may support both unicast and multicast delivery modes. The SEALclient(s) (501) may provide service enabler layer support functions tothe UAE client(s) (501) over reference points (510). The UAE server(s)(503) may communicate with the SEAL server(s) (507) over the referencepoint (508). The SEAL server(s) (507) may communicate with theunderlying 3GPP core network systems using the respective 3GPPinterfaces (506) specified by the 3GPP network system.

Interactions related to vertical application layer support functionsbetween the UAE client (501) and a vertical application layer (VAL)server may be provided over a reference point (502). The VAL server maybe a part of, or provided with, the UAE server (503). The interactionsbetween a SEAL client (504) and the corresponding SEAL server (507) maybe provided over a reference point (505). The reference point (505) maybe a specific SEAL service (such as network resource management)reference point, which may be specified in the specific SEAL servicefunctional model.

A network resource management (NRM) server may be provided thatcommunicates with a 3GPP Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) overa reference point (506). The NRM server (NRM-S) may communicate with a3GPP 5G Policy Control Function (PCF) via a reference point (506) tocontrol unicast resources from the underlying 3GPP network (509). TheNRM server may be a part of, provided with, implemented by, or includedin the SEAL server (507), and the PCRF and the PCF may be included inthe 3GPP network (509). In embodiments, a location management server(LMS) may be a part of, provided with, implemented by, or included inthe SEAL server (507).

The SEAL clients 504 may include multiple features, for example networkresource management (NRM). An NRM client (NRM-C) may be deployed in theUE 511 side, for example a part of, provided with, implemented by, orincluded in SEAL client 50, to communicate with NRM server for networkresource or condition detection and reporting. A location managementclient (LMC) may be deployed in the UE 511 side, for example a part of,provided with, implemented by, or included in SEAL client 504, tocommunicate with an LMS for UE location report and monitoring.

The communication between SEAL client 504 and SEAL server 507, forexample between an NRM-C and an NRM-S, or between an LMC and an LMS, mayoccur between UAE server 503 and SEAL servers 507. For example, if theUAE server 503 would like to know the current network connection status,UAE server 503 may send an inquiry to an NRM server included in SEALserver 507, and in turn the NRM server may communicate with an NRMclient included in SEAL client 504 for a report.

In embodiments, a network-connected UAV, for example UAV 101, UAV 201,or UAV 301 discussed above, may lose network communication in any phaseof UAV operation. When communication is lost, neither USS/UTM nor 3GPPnetwork can pinpoint the location of the UAV. Therefore, it is importantto be able to know the network condition in near real-time to avoid anyservice delays.

Accordingly, embodiments may relate to a real-time UAV connectionmonitoring and location reporting mechanism, which may not only enablethe UAE server to actively monitor the UAV network connection but alsoprovide other advantages such as accurate location reporting and networkconverge monitoring.

As mentioned above, the UAV may lose communication with its connectednetwork such as 3GPP 5G, in any phase of UAV operation. Whencommunication is lost, neither USS/UTM nor 3GPP network can pinpoint thelocation of the UAV. Therefore, it is important to be able to know thenetwork condition in near real-time to avoid any service delays.

Embodiments may provide a Real-time UAV Connection Monitoring andLocation Reporting workflow 600 using existing SEAL functions, which mayprovide the extra following functionalities:

-   -   Real-time monitoring of the 3GPP network connection with UAVs    -   Reporting when loss of communication with UAV occurs    -   Providing last known location after loss of communication    -   Reporting 3GPP Network coverage along UAV's flight path

Referring to FIG. 6 , workflow 600 may involve UAV 601, LMC 602, NRM-C/S603, UAE server 604 and LMS 605. In embodiments, UAV 601 may correspondto one or more of UAV 101, UAV 201, or UAV 301 discussed above. Inembodiments, UAE server 604 may correspond to UAE 503 discussed above.In embodiments, NRM-C/S 603 may include one or more of NRM-C and NRM-Sdiscussed above. In embodiments, LMC 602 may correspond to LMC discussedabove, and LMS 605 may correspond to LMS discussed above. Inembodiments, one or more of NRM-C, NRM-S, NRM-C/S 603, LMC 602, and LMS605 may be a part of, provided with, implemented by, or included in oneor more of the SEAL client 504 and the SEAL server (507)

In embodiments, a UAV 601 may establish a connection with the 3GPPnetwork and the SEAL network resource management and location servicesare deployed for connected UAVs.

The UAE server 604 may provide proactive network connection monitoring(step 611) by periodically pulling (step 612) the 3GPP network signalreception quality report from NRM-C/S 603. In a simple request process,the NRM-S may send a network request to NRM-C and a report sent back byNRM-C may include either a “unicast” or “multicast” network status,which may be used to indicate the network signal quality.

The frequency of actively pulling may be implementation independent. Forexample, high frequency may mean high power consumption, but providenear real-time monitoring.

When connection status in is in UP status, the UAE server (604) maytrigger (step 613) location update request to LMS (605). The LMS (605)may check whether location management client (602) or UAE server (604)is authorized to send a location reporting trigger. Depending on theinformation specified by the location reporting trigger, LMS (605)initiates an on-demand location reporting procedure or anevent-triggered location reporting procedure for the location of LMC(602). In embodiments, a location request is sent from the LMS (605) tothe LMC (602) (step 614), and a location response is sent from the LMC(602) to the LMS (605) (step 615).

The UAE server (604) may send out a location inquiry per servicerequest. The UAE server (604) sends a location information request tothe LMS (605) (step 616). The LMS (605) may acquire the latest locationof the UAV being requested, by triggering an on-demand location reportprocedure as described above. Then, LMS may immediately send thelocation information report including the latest location informationacquired of the UAV (601) (step 617).

If NRM-S may detect there is a loss of communication-based on thereception quality report from NRM-C (step 618). The NRM-S may indicateto the UAE server (604) that the UAV 601 is unusable, for example byreporting a lost connection (step 619).

With the loss of the communication link, the LMS 605) may still providethe last known location to the UAE server (604) (step 620). Step 620 maythe same workflow mentioned above for location inquiry.

If the NRM-S detects communication resumption (step 621), the NRM-Sindicates to the UAE server (604) that UAV 601 has become usable, forexample by reporting connection resumption (step 622).

Once the UAE server 604 receives notification about connectionresumption, it may again trigger the location update request to LMS(605) (step 623). This location request and update process (steps623-625) may be similar to steps 613-615 discussed above.

Accordingly, embodiments may relate to a method of providing a real-timeUAV connection monitoring and location reporting mechanism, enabling theUAE server to actively monitor the UAV network connection, providingother advantages such as accurate location reporting and networkconverge monitoring.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example processes 700 for unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) connection monitoring and location reporting. FIG.7 may be described with the aid of FIGS. 1-6 . In embodiments, one ormore blocks of process 700 may be combined in any order.

As shown in FIG. 7 , process 700 may include receiving, by an unmannedaerial system application enabler (UAE) server, a location reportindicating a location of the UAV from a location management (LM) server(block 702). In embodiments, the UAE server may correspond to one ormore of UAE server 503 and UAE server 604 discussed above. Inembodiments, the UAV may correspond to one or more of UAV 101, UAV 201,UAV 301, or UAV 601 discussed above. In embodiments, the LM server maycorrespond to LMS 605 discussed above.

As further shown in FIG. 7 , process 700 may include receiving, by theUAE server, a lost connection report indicating a loss of connectionwith the UAV (block 704).

As further shown in FIG. 7 , process 700 may include receiving, by theUAE server, a connection resumption report from a network resourcemanagement (NRM) server indicating that the connection with the UAV hasbeen re-established (block 704). In embodiments, the NRM server maycorrespond to one or more of an NRM-S or NRM-C/S 603 discussed above.

As further shown in FIG. 7 , process 700 may include based on receivingthe connection resumption report, transmitting, from the UAE server, alocation update request to the LM server (block 704).

In embodiments, the location update request may cause the LM server totransmit a location request to an LM client corresponding to the UAV. Inembodiments, the LM client may correspond to LMC 602 discussed above.

In embodiments, the lost connection report may be received from the NRMserver.

In embodiments, the NRM server may transmit the lost connection reportbased on a reception quality report received by the NRM server from anNRM client associated with the UAV. In embodiments, the NRM client maycorrespond to one or more of an NRM-C or NRM-C/S 603 discussed above.

In embodiments, the location report may be received based on a locationrequest transmitted from the UAE server to the LM server.

In embodiments, the location request may be transmitted from the UAEserver based on a network connection state report received by the UAEserver from the NRM server.

In embodiments, after receiving the lost connection report, the UAEserver may further receive information indicating a last known locationof the UAV from the LM server.

It may be appreciated that FIG. 7 provides only illustrations ofimplementations, and do not imply any limitations with regard to howdifferent embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to thedepicted environments may be made based on design and implementationrequirements.

Systems of the present disclosure may include at least one processor andmemory storing computer code. The computer code, when executed by the atleast one processor, may be configured to cause the at least oneprocessor to perform the functions of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For example, the UAVs and the UAV controllers of the presentdisclosure may each include a respective at least one processor andmemory storing computer code configured to cause the UAVs and the UAVcontrollers to perform their respective functions. Furthermore, theservers (e.g. UAE server (604), LMS (605), NRM-S, etc) of the presentdisclosure may be implemented by a same or different at least oneprocessor and/or same or different memory storing computer code.

An example of computer code that implements the UAE server (604) isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 8 . The computer code mayinclude, for example, first receiving code (802), second receiving code(804), third receiving code (806), and determining code (808).

The first receiving code (802) may be configured to cause the UAE server(604) to receive a location report indicating a location of an unmannedaerial vehicle (UAV) from a location management (LM) server. Inembodiments, the UAV may correspond to one or more of UAV 101, UAV 201,UAV 301, or UAV 601 discussed above. In embodiments, the LM server maycorrespond to LMS 605 discussed above. In embodiments, the LM server maycorrespond to LMS 605 discussed above.

The second receiving code (804) may be configured to cause the UAEserver (604) to receive a lost connection report indicating a loss ofconnection with the UAV.

The third receiving code (806) may be configured to cause the UAE server(604) to receive a connection resumption report from a network resourcemanagement (NRM) server indicating that the connection with the UAV hasbeen re-established. In embodiments, the NRM server may correspond toone or more of an NRM-S or NRM-C/S 603 discussed above.

The transmitting code (808) may be configured to cause the UAE server(604) to, based on receiving the connection resumption report, transmita location update request to the LM server.

While example code that is performed by the UAE server (604) isdescribed above, it should be understood by a person of ordinary skillin the art that each of the UAVs, UAVs, the UAV controllers, and theservers of the present disclosure may include and/or be implemented bycomputer code that is configured to cause the UAVs, UAV controllers, andthe servers to perform their respective functions, including thefunctions described in the present disclosure.

The techniques for Unmanned Aerial System Communication, describedabove, can be implemented in both controller and UAV as computersoftware using computer-readable instructions and physically stored inone or more computer-readable media. For example, FIG. 9 shows acomputer system (900) suitable for implementing certain embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter is illustrated.

The computer software can be coded using any suitable machine code orcomputer language, that may be subject to assembly, compilation,linking, or like mechanisms to create code including instructions thatcan be executed directly, or through interpretation, micro-codeexecution, and the like, by computer central processing units (CPUs),Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and the like.

The instructions can be executed on various types of computers orcomponents thereof, including, for example, personal computers, tabletcomputers, servers, smartphones, gaming devices, internet of thingsdevices, and the like.

The components shown in FIG. 9 for computer system (900) are exemplaryin nature and are not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scopeof use or functionality of the computer software implementingembodiments of the present disclosure. Neither should the configurationof components be interpreted as having any dependency or requirementrelating to any one or combination of components illustrated in theexemplary embodiment of a computer system (900).

Computer system (900) may include certain human interface input devices.Such a human interface input device may be responsive to input by one ormore human users through, for example, tactile input (such as:keystrokes, swipes, data glove movements), audio input (such as: voice,clapping), visual input (such as: gestures), olfactory input (notdepicted). The human interface devices can also be used to capturecertain media not necessarily directly related to conscious input by ahuman, such as audio (such as: speech, music, ambient sound), images(such as: scanned images, photographic images obtain from a still imagecamera), video (such as two-dimensional video, three-dimensional videoincluding stereoscopic video).

Input human interface devices may include one or more of (only one ofeach depicted): keyboard (901), mouse (902), trackpad (903),touch-screen (910), joystick (905), microphone (906), scanner (907), andcamera (908).

Computer system (900) may also include certain human interface outputdevices. Such human interface output devices may be stimulating thesenses of one or more human users through, for example, tactile output,sound, light, and smell/taste. Such human interface output devices mayinclude tactile output devices (for example tactile feedback by thetouch-screen (910), data-glove, or joystick (905), but there can also betactile feedback devices that do not serve as input devices. Forexample, such devices may be audio output devices (such as: speakers(909), headphones (not depicted)), visual output devices (such asscreens 910 to include CRT screens, LCD screens, plasma screens, OLEDscreens, each with or without touch-screen input capability, each withor without tactile feedback capability—some of which may be capable tooutput two dimensional visual output or more than three dimensionaloutput through means such as stereographic output; virtual-realityglasses (not depicted), holographic displays and smoke tanks (notdepicted)), and printers (not depicted).

Computer system (900) can also include human accessible storage devicesand their associated media such as optical media including CD/DVD ROM/RW(920) with CD/DVD or the like media (921), thumb-drive (922), removablehard drive or solid state drive (923), legacy magnetic media such astape and floppy disc (not depicted), specialized ROM/ASIC/PLD baseddevices such as security dongles (not depicted), and the like.

Those skilled in the art should also understand that term “computerreadable media” as used in connection with the presently disclosedsubject matter does not encompass transmission media, carrier waves, orother transitory signals.

Computer system (900) can also include interface to one or morecommunication networks. Networks can for example be wireless, wireline,optical. Networks can further be local, wide-area, metropolitan,vehicular and industrial, real-time, delay-tolerant, and so on. Examplesof networks include local area networks such as Ethernet, wireless LANs,cellular networks to include GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE and the like, TVwireline or wireless wide area digital networks to include cable TV,satellite TV, and terrestrial broadcast TV, vehicular and industrial toinclude CANBus, and so forth. Certain networks commonly require externalnetwork interface adapters that attached to certain general purpose dataports or peripheral buses (949) (such as, for example USB ports of thecomputer system (900); others are commonly integrated into the core ofthe computer system (900) by attachment to a system bus as describedbelow (for example Ethernet interface into a PC computer system orcellular network interface into a smartphone computer system). Using anyof these networks, computer system (900) can communicate with otherentities. Such communication can be uni-directional, receive only (forexample, broadcast TV), uni-directional send-only (for example CANbus tocertain CANbus devices), or bi-directional, for example to othercomputer systems using local or wide area digital networks. Suchcommunication can include communication to a cloud computing environment(955). Certain protocols and protocol stacks can be used on each ofthose networks and network interfaces as described above.

Aforementioned human interface devices, human-accessible storagedevices, and network interfaces (954) can be attached to a core (940) ofthe computer system (900).

The core (940) can include one or more Central Processing Units (CPU)(941), Graphics Processing Units (GPU) (942), specialized programmableprocessing units in the form of Field Programmable Gate Areas (FPGA)(943), hardware accelerators (944) for certain tasks, and so forth.These devices, along with Read-only memory (ROM) (945), Random-accessmemory (RAM) (946), internal mass storage such as internal non-useraccessible hard drives, SSDs, and the like, may be connected through asystem bus (948). In some computer systems, the system bus (948) can beaccessible in the form of one or more physical plugs to enableextensions by additional CPUs, GPU, and the like. The peripheral devicescan be attached either directly to the core's system bus (948), orthrough a peripheral bus (949). Architectures for a peripheral businclude PCI, USB, and the like. A graphics adapter (950) may be includedin the core (940).

CPUs (941), GPUs (942), FPGAs (943), and accelerators (944) can executecertain instructions that, in combination, can make up theaforementioned computer code. That computer code can be stored in ROM(945) or RAM (946). Transitional data can be also be stored in RAM(946), whereas permanent data can be stored for example, in the massstorage (947) that is internal. Fast storage and retrieve to any of thememory devices can be enabled through the use of cache memory, that canbe closely associated with one or more CPU (941), GPU (942), massstorage (947), ROM (945), RAM (946), and the like.

The computer readable media can have computer code thereon forperforming various computer-implemented operations. The media andcomputer code can be those specially designed and constructed for thepurposes of the present disclosure, or they can be of the kind wellknown and available to those having skill in the computer software arts.

As an example and not by way of limitation, the computer system (900)having architecture, and specifically the core (940) can providefunctionality as a result of processor(s) (including CPUs, GPUs, FPGA,accelerators, and the like) executing software embodied in one or moretangible, computer-readable media. Such computer-readable media can bemedia associated with user-accessible mass storage as introduced above,as well as certain storage of the core (940) that are of non-transitorynature, such as core-internal mass storage (947) or ROM (945). Thesoftware implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure canbe stored in such devices and executed by core (940). Acomputer-readable medium can include one or more memory devices orchips, according to particular needs. The software can cause the core(940) and specifically the processors therein (including CPU, GPU, FPGA,and the like) to execute particular processes or particular parts ofparticular processes described herein, including defining datastructures stored in RAM (946) and modifying such data structuresaccording to the processes defined by the software. In addition or as analternative, the computer system can provide functionality as a resultof logic hardwired or otherwise embodied in a circuit (for example:accelerator (944)), which can operate in place of or together withsoftware to execute particular processes or particular parts ofparticular processes described herein. Reference to software canencompass logic, and vice versa, where appropriate. Reference to acomputer-readable media can encompass a circuit (such as an integratedcircuit (IC)) storing software for execution, a circuit embodying logicfor execution, or both, where appropriate. The present disclosureencompasses any suitable combination of hardware and software.

While this disclosure has described several non-limiting exampleembodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and various substituteequivalents, which fall within the scope of the disclosure. It will thusbe appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devisenumerous systems and methods which, although not explicitly shown ordescribed herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are thuswithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)connection monitoring and location reporting, the method beingimplemented by at least one processor and comprising: receiving, by anunmanned aerial system application enabler (UAE) server, a locationreport indicating a location of the UAV from a location management (LM)server; receiving, by the UAE server, a lost connection reportindicating a loss of connection with the UAV; receiving, by the UAEserver, a connection resumption report from a network resourcemanagement (NRM) server indicating that the connection with the UAV hasbeen re-established; and based on receiving the connection resumptionreport, transmitting, from the UAE server, a location update request tothe LM server.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location updaterequest causes the LM server to transmit a location request to an LMclient corresponding to the UAV.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thelost connection report is received from the NRM server.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the NRM server transmits the lost connection reportbased on a reception quality report received by the NRM server from anNRM client associated with the UAV.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe location report is received based on a location request transmittedfrom the UAE server to the LM server.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe location request is transmitted from the UAE server based on anetwork connection state report received by the UAE server from the NRMserver.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein, after receiving the lostconnection report, the UAE server further receives informationindicating a last known location of the UAV from the LM server.
 8. Adevice for implementing an unmanned aerial system application enabler(UAE) server, the device comprising: at least one processor; and memorycomprising computer code, the computer code comprising: first receivingcode configured to cause the at least one processor to receive alocation report indicating a location of an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) from a location management (LM) server; second receiving codeconfigured to cause the at least one processor to receive a lostconnection report indicating a loss of connection with the UAV; thirdreceiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receivea connection resumption report from a network resource management (NRM)server indicating that the connection with the UAV has beenre-established; and transmitting code configured to cause the at leastone processor to, based on receiving the connection resumption report,transmit a location update request to the LM server.
 9. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the location update request causes the LM server totransmit a location request to an LM client corresponding to the UAV.10. The device of claim 8, wherein the lost connection report isreceived from the NRM server.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein theNRM server transmits the lost connection report based on a receptionquality report received by the NRM server from an NRM client associatedwith the UAV.
 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the location report isreceived based on a location request transmitted from the UAE server tothe LM server.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the location requestis transmitted from the UAE server based on a network connection statereport received by the UAE server from the NRM server.
 14. The device ofclaim 8, wherein, after receiving the lost connection report, the UAEserver further receives information indicating a last known location ofthe UAV from the LM server.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing computer code that is configured to, when executed by atleast one processor included in a device for unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) connection monitoring and location reporting, cause the at leastone processor to: receive, by an unmanned aerial system applicationenabler (UAE) server, a location report indicating a location of the UAVfrom a location management (LM) server; receive, by the UAE server, alost connection report indicating a loss of connection with the UAV;receive, by the UAE server, a connection resumption report from anetwork resource management (NRM) server indicating that the connectionwith the UAV has been re-established; and based on receiving theconnection resumption report, transmit, from the UAE server, a locationupdate request to the LM server.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the location updaterequest causes the LM server to transmit a location request to an LMclient corresponding to the UAV.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the lost connection reportis received from the NRM server.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the NRM server transmitsthe lost connection report based on a reception quality report receivedby the NRM server from an NRM client associated with the UAV.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein thelocation report is received based on a location request transmitted fromthe UAE server to the LM server.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein, after receiving the lostconnection report, the UAE server further receives informationindicating a last known location of the UAV from the LM server.